Coniglio will drop re-election bid
By EditorState Sen. Joseph Coniglio, who is the target of a federal corruption investigation, has agreed to drop his bid for re-election in the 38th district. Coniglio had resisted intense internal pressure from Bergen Democratic leaders to drop out of the race, but has now told Democratic officials that he would end his bid for a third term.
But Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero is strongly denying that Coniglio is dropping out, saying the report is "absolutely not true."
"Senator Joe Coniglio and Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero vociferously deny the report that Senator Coniglio has dropped out of his District38 race," said Brian Hague, Coniglio's campaign manager. (Editor's note: PoliticsNJ.com continues to stand by our report of Coniglio's plan to withdraw.)
Ferriero, Senate President Richard Codey, and State Sen. Paul Sarlo have a meeting scheduled with Coniglio tonight.
Sources say that a date for Coniglio's formal withdrawal has not been set, and that Democrats have not yet decided on a replacement candidate to challenge Robert Colletti, the former Elmwood Park Councilman who is the GOP Senate candidate. But PoliticsNJ.com is told that Assemblyman Robert Gordon and Assemblywoman Joan Voss, who received subpoenas as part of the federal probe of state budget Christmas Tree items but have not been implicated in the Coniglio investigation, will not be considered for the Senate seat.
Paramus Mayor James Tedesco could emerge as the front runner to replace Coniglio, Democrats say.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Twelve New Jersey legislators, all from districts that are not especially competitive in general election contests, face potential obstacles in their ... >
Bob Torricelli
It's hard to not be concerned these days. We've all witnessed frustration with our institutions before but I never remember anything of this ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Instead of borrowing trillions to waste on make-work governmental projects, stimulate the economy with tax cuts. >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
Michael P. Riccards
In December 2008, the Holy See released a new document dealing with bioethics called “Dignitas Personae.” This “instruction” from the ... >
Joey Novick
Hard to believe we have arrived at the last year of the first decade of the 21st century. Boy, seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was handed ... >
Juan Melli
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe ... >
Carla Katz
As it tends to, history seems to be repeating itself as 240 laid-off workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago revive a decades old tactic -- ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Many columnists write a "year in review" or a "predictions" piece for the New Year, however I decided to refrain from going down ... >
Murray Sabrin
Five Democrat governors including New Jersey’s Jon Corzine and New York’s David Paterson have called upon the incoming Obama administration to ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Healy and Stack and the late Glenn Cunningham
- Kyrillos: 'We need a leader like Chris Christie'
- Lonegan camp says they qualify for matching funds
- Merkt fights perceived Christie canonization in Passaic County
- Holt decides to run for assembly instead of state senate
- Reilly joins Codey staff
- Manzo to unveil slate next week
- Rule him out of District 36 Assembly run, says Scarpelli
- U.S. Rep. Adler assumes seat on financial services committee
- Corzine visits troops in Iraq
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- Weinberg loses life savings in Madoff Ponzi scheme
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
Quote of the Day
"Uh, listen. Rod Blagojevich is going to jail. It’s really just a matter of when and he’s trying to leverage this and so his lawyer, as much as he can to get the best deal he possibly can." -- Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, who until just recently did not comment on pending federal investigations.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
The City Boss Becomes the Country Boss ― DICK BENFIELD...MUST READ
Ferriero's support a curse for Kasparian? ― CHARLES STILE...MUST READ
Trenton must stop thinking outside box― DOUG FORRESTER
Three's a crowd, but one man isn't a party― ALFRED DOBLIN
Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives― DAN JACOBSON
Murder charge for Prisco― ANGELO PRISCO
Healy: Have yourself a merry little Christmas with my CD― JERSEY JOURNAL
Time for BCDO to clean up its act ― CHARLES STILE
Madoff investors will have trouble getting money back― FRANK LAUTENBERG
OBAMA'S ELECTOR ― ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Syndicate
Another crook bites the dust
bye bye
confusion in the BCDO Thieves guild
Looks like the Ferrerio gang are running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
Another BCDO debacle
One must wonder who actually does damage control for the BCDO? Does Ferriero trust anyone? Running around with Dennis Oury calling for the abolition of pay for play laws is like throwing a drowning man 8 feet of rope when he's 10 feet away! Ferriero seems either ambivalent to public opinion or so arrogant the GOP cannot compete that he can do what he wants, when he wants. I guess Sarlo is getting a bit nervous that Coniglio's problems could become his problems and thus the exit of the Paramus Democrat. Coniglio is finding out that everyone is expendable when it comes to Ferriero's power hold on the Democratic Party. It's becoming very apparent rank and file Democrats are tired of his nonsense and that a real contest for county chairman is eminent.
See ya!
Don't let the door hit ya, where the good lord split ya!
Bergen- DONT VOTE FOR
Bergen- DONT VOTE FOR ANOTHER CORRUPT DEMOCRAT. dont be fooled twice. dont be stupid, or you get what you deserve
Heave Ho Coniglio
Ferriero and Codey are worms. Turning their backs on their friends like this. Shameful. Fight Joe Coniglio. Tell the bosses to stick it. By the way, Codey knows which legislators steered the grants. He should either testify against Coniglio if Coniglio was the one who got them, or set the record straight and tell everyone which other legislator or legislators did get the grants. So if it was Coniglio, Codey knew about it, let it happen, and was silent. If it was not Coniglio, then why is Codey knifing him in the back with Ferriero?
Coniglio -- sacrificed to preserve the herd
Occasionally the huge herd of Kleptocrats, be they Republican or Democrat, sacrifice a few members to a politician in a lion suit (this time, Christie) to preserve the illusion of ecological health and balance. Like Corzine, the "lion" will get elected and become part of the herd protecting itself from lions. Until the political ecology is cleaned up through election finance reform, this cyclical charade will continue. "Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation." A quote from someone who should know: Henry Kissinger!
Thanks for the red light
Thanks for the red light cameras you vermin scum. I hope you go to jail for a really long time!!